Chapter 15 fourth quarter

The long shores of Havnor turned blue behind the ship, and the misty Mount Orne floated high in the north.The ship sailed through the Ibano Strait and headed towards the Inner Pole Sea. The black basalt pillars of Omo Island stood on the right side of the ship.The sun was bright, the sea breeze was fresh, and it was another beautiful day. The ladies were all sitting under the canvas awnings that the sailors had built next to the after cabin.Women bring good luck to the ship, so sailors scramble to prepare small comforts and enjoyments; sailors also treat wizards with great courtesy, because wizards can bring good luck to the ship, or equivalently bad luck.The wizard's sail pergola stands in a corner of the afterdeck, with an unobstructed view ahead; the ladies have velvet cushions (the foreknowledge of a king or steward), and the wizard has a canvas bag, which works just as well.

Chi Yang found himself regarded as a member of the wizard and received the same treatment. He was powerless but very embarrassed. He was worried that Obsidian and Sebo thought he was an equal, and he was also worried because he could not even be called a warlock now.His gifts were gone, his powers were gone, he was sure, as clear as blind, paralyzed hands.He can't mend the jug these days unless he uses glue, but he must have done a bad job because he never had to use that method. He had lost something besides the art, something wider than the art, something that had vanished, that left him with the blankness of his wife's death, no joy, no experience of the new.Nothing can happen, nothing can be changed.

After losing it, he understood the more complete appearance of the gift, pondered and guessed the nature of the gift: as if he knew how to go, as if he knew the direction to go home, he could not clearly identify or describe it, but it was closely related to everything.After losing, he felt miserable and worthless. But at least it won't do much harm.His dreams were short and meaningless, and took him no more to lonely moors, grassy hills, low walls, where no voice called in the dark. Alder thought of Sparrowhawk often, and wished to speak to him: the archmage, who had exhausted his strength, was once a master, and now lived the rest of his life poor and neglected.But the king desires to honor him, so his poverty is voluntary.Perhaps, Alder thought, money or status would only bring shame to those who lost their true wealth, their true path.

Obsidian clearly regretted making Alder this deal or exchange, and he had always been extremely courteous to Alder, but now treated Alder with respect and apology, and slightly distanced himself from Wizard Parn.Alder himself had no dislike for Sebo, nor doubted his intentions.The ancient force of the earth is the ancient force of the earth, and you have to take risks to use it. I didn't know how much it would cost, but it was not Sebo's fault, it was my fault, because I never cherished the true value of talent. Alder sat with two wizards, felt like a counterfeit coin among gold coins, but still listened attentively to their conversation, the wizard trusted him, talked about everything, and their conversation taught him things he never imagined as a warlock Knowledge.

Sitting in the shade of the bright sail shed, the two talked of a deal, bigger than the one Alder had made to keep the dream at bay.Obsidian makes several references to the Primordial word Furnarden that Sepo spoke on the roof.Alder pieced together the meaning bit by bit from the conversation between the two: it was like some kind of choice, split, split into two.Long, long ago, before Enlad appeared, before Hittite writing, maybe even before Hittite, when there was only Creation, it seemed that man made some choice, gave up some great possession, in order to for another. The discussion between the two sounds incomprehensible, not because of concealment, but because even the wizard himself can only blindly search the foggy past, the era when the memory has not yet existed.When necessary, the ancient language will appear in the conversation, and sometimes Obsidian will speak in the ancient language, but Sebo will answer in the He language.Sebo seldom used the creation language, and once even raised his hand to prevent Black Yao from continuing to speak.Wizard Roke cast surprised and questioning eyes, and he only said gently, "The words lead to actions."

Alder's teacher, Gannet, also called the ancient words spells. "Every word is an act of power, and true words make true." Gannets are stingy with using spell words they know unless necessary, and when writing any runes used to compose the Hitt language, save the most common runes, write them all at once Then wipe it off.Most sorcerers are so careful to preserve their knowledge, or out of respect for the power of the Language of Creation.Even Sebo, being a shaman with a wider knowledge and understanding of these words, would not use them in conversation, but sticks to the common reading, because the Hittite language allows ambiguity and error even if it may have lies and mistakes Recycle.

Perhaps this is part of the choice humans made in ancient times: to give up the innate knowledge of the ancient language, the ability that humans once shared with the dragons.Chi Yang wondered, did people do this to have their own language?A language fit for human beings that can be used to lie, deceive, blackmail, and invent magical concepts never before possible? Dragons can only speak the Old Tongue, but it has long been said that dragons can lie.Is that right?Alder wondered.How can a dragon lie with a spell if the spell is true? Sebo and Obsidian entered the long, relaxed, contemplative silences that often occur in conversation.Realizing that Black Yao was half asleep, Chi Yang asked Wizard Parn softly, "Can dragons really tell lies with the truth?"

The wizard of Parn smiled: "The people of Parn often say that this is exactly the question that Asi asked Orm in the ruins of Ontugo a thousand years ago. "Is the dragon lying?" asked the wizard, and Orm replied: "No." Then Exhale, burn Aspen to ashes... But can we really believe this story? It may just be Aum's one-sided story." The mage's arguments never end, Alder talked to himself, but didn't say it out loud. Obsidian was definitely asleep, with his head thrown back against the bulkhead, his serious, tense face relaxed. Sepo spoke, his voice quieter than usual: "Alder, I hope you don't regret what we did in Oren. I know our friends think I didn't warn you more clearly."

Chi Yang said without hesitation: "I am very satisfied." Sebo nodded his jet-black head. Chi Yang finally said again: "I know we are trying to maintain the balance of one body, but the Taikoo force of the earth has its own plans." "It is difficult for mortals to understand the justice of Taiguli." "That's right. I've been thinking, why do I have to give up the magic arts to get rid of the dream? What's the relationship between the two?" Sepo didn't answer for a long time, and then answered another question: "Didn't you go to the stone wall according to the law?"

"Never." Chi Yang said firmly, "I don't have the strength to go, just as I don't have the strength not to go." "So how did you get there?" "My wife called me and my heart went out to her." Longer silence.The wizard said: "Others also lose their beloved wives." "I also said the same to Lord Sparrowhawk, and although the Lord said so, the bond between true love is the closest and will never die." "Beyond the stone wall, there is no bond." Chi Yang looked at the wizard, his face was dark and soft, his eyes were sharp, and he asked, "Why?"

"Death breaks the bond." "Then why the dead don't die?" Sepo stared at Alder in shock. "I'm sorry," said Alder, "I have lost my word in ignorance. I mean, death breaks the bond between the soul and the body, so the body dies and returns to the earth. But the soul must go to the dark place, and take the appearance of the body, Stay there...how long? Forever? There in the dust and dusk there is no light, love, or joy. I can't bear the thought of Lily being there. Why does she have to be there? Why can't she..." His voice faltered... "Freedom?" "Because the wind can't blow there," Saipo said with a strange expression and a hoarse voice, "human skills prevent the wind from blowing in." He continued to stare at the alder, and gradually saw him again, his eyes and expression changed, turned his head away, saw the beautiful white curve of the foresail full of the breath of the northwest wind, and glanced back at the alder. "You know as much about it as I do, my friend," Sepo said in an almost usual soft voice, "but you know it with your body, your blood, your pulse, and I only know words, ancient Words... so we'd better go to Roke, and the wise men there may tell us what we need to know. If they can't, maybe the dragon can. Or maybe you will show us the way." "Then I will become the blind man who led the prophet to the edge of the cliff!" Chi Yang smiled. "Ah, but we are standing on the edge of the cliff with our eyes closed," said Wizard Parn. Lebannin felt that the ship was too small to accommodate his great agitation.The lady sat under the little sail shed, and the wizard under his own, like a row of ducks, but he paced back and forth, impatient with the cramped confines of the deck.He felt that it was not the sea breeze that made the "dolphin" travel south so quickly, but his own impatience—but it was still not fast enough.He hoped the journey would be over quickly. "Do you still remember the fleet going to Vasso Island?" He was standing by the helmsman, studying the nautical chart and the open sea in front of him, and Tosla stood beside him and asked, "That scene was really spectacular! Thirty ships lined up a row!" "I wish we were going to the Oiseau Island," said Lebanin. "I've never liked Roke," agreed Tothra. "There's no good wind or current for twenty miles of that coast, just wizard's potion; They're all liars and shapeshifting monsters." He spat towards the seaside skillfully, "I'd rather face Old Dog Blood and his group of slave traders again!" Lebannin nodded, but said nothing.There was always such a joy in being with Tosla: he would say for Lebanin what he should not have said. "That guy who can't speak...that dumb guy," Tosla asked, "is the one who killed Falken on the city wall, what's his name?" "Egg. From pirate to slave trader." "That's right. When he was at Sola, he recognized you and attacked you directly. I kept thinking, how could this happen?" "Because he once took me as a slave." Tosla had seen the big wind and waves, but at this moment he was dumbfounded. He obviously didn't believe Lebanin, but he had to believe it, and had nothing to say.Lebannen enjoyed the moment, and finally sympathized with his situation. "When the Archmage took me to hunt Kabu, we went south first. There was a man in the town of Huot who informed the slavers, and they hit the Archmage on the head, and I ran away quickly, thinking that I could lure them away. .But it was me they were after... I was worth a fortune. Woke up chained, on a warship bound for Shore. The next night, the Archmage rescued me, and the chains fell from us like dead leaves. Scattered all over him. The Archmage told Egg that he would never speak again unless he thought of something worth saying... The Archmage was like a great lamp, coming across the sea towards the battleship... Only then did I understand his true face. " Tosla pondered for a long time. "He freed all the slaves? Why didn't the slaves kill Egg?" "Perhaps they took him to Shore and sold him," said Lebanin. Tosla thought longer. "That's why you are so obsessed with banning slave trade." "One." "This line of work doesn't usually turn people around for the better," said Tosla, studying the map of the Intrapolar Seas pinned to the helmsman's left, noticing somewhere, "Way Island, where the Dragon Lady came from." "I see you avoid her all the time." Tusla pursed his lips, but he didn't whistle because he was on the boat. "Remember the Bellillo chick I mentioned? Let's just say I thought it was just a story until I saw her." "Tosla, maybe she will eat you." "That's an honorable death, too," said the sailor sourly. Wang laughed. "Don't be too bold," said Tosla. "don’t worry." "You chatted so freely with her there, it was almost as easy as being with a volcano... But I guarantee you, I don't mind seeing a little more of the gifts from the Kargs, judging by those feet , well worth a look. How do you get her out of the tent? Those feet are great, but I want to look at the ankles a bit more first." Lebanin felt his face darken, and turned his head so that Tosilla would not see him. "If someone gave me such a gift," said Tosla, gazing out to sea, "I would open it." Lebanin couldn't restrain his impatient little movements, Tosla was always sensitive, grinning with a crooked smile, and said nothing more. The captain went up to the deck.Lebannin asked: "The clouds are a bit thick ahead?" The captain nodded and said: "There are storms in the south and west, and they will enter the range tonight." As the time gets late, the sea surface fluctuates in the afternoon, the gentle sunlight is tinted with a brass tone, and the sea breeze blows from different angles.Tenar had told Lebann that the princess was afraid of the sea and seasickness, and he glanced or twice into the back cabin to make sure he wouldn't see a red-veiled figure among the row of ducks.But it was Tenar and Tehanu who entered the cabin, the princess still there, and Iriane sitting beside them, talking intently.What does the dragon woman from Wei Island have to talk about with the harem woman of Huerhu?What is the common language?Impatient to know, Lebannin went to the back cabin. When Irianne saw Lebannin, she raised her head and smiled.She has a strong and cheerful face, a generous smile, she would rather walk barefoot, be careless about her clothes, and let the wind tangle her long hair.If you don't look into her eyes, you will think that she is just a handsome, warm-hearted, intelligent, uneducated village woman.Her eyes were a hazy amber, and when she looked directly at Lebanon as she was doing now, he could not look directly back, so he lowered his gaze. Lebannin made it clear that no court ceremonies were allowed on board, no bowing was allowed, and no one was allowed to jump to attention when he approached.But the princess stood up, and she had beautiful feet, as Tosla had said, not small, but arched, strong, and beautiful.He stared at a pair of slender bare feet on the white wooden deck, raised his eyes, and saw the princess, like the last time she faced him, pulled back the veil, allowing only him to see her face.The majestic, almost pathetic beauty under the red shadow dazzled him slightly. "Is everything... all right, Princess?" he stammered, which was rare. "Breathe the sea air," said the princess, "my friend Tenar said." "That's right." He snapped two words and answered casually. "What do you think...perhaps...your wizard can do for the princess?" Irian asked, stretching her long limbs and standing up too.Both she and the princess are tall. Lebanon was trying to distinguish the color of the princess' pupils, because he could finally see her eyes.It's blue, he thought, but like a blue opal, it has a different color, and maybe it's caused by the sun shining through the red veil... "What to do for the princess?" "She very much hoped she wouldn't get seasick, and she suffered a lot when she came from Karger." "I'm not afraid," said the princess, looking directly at Lebannin as if challenging him... Why? "Of course, of course. I'll ask Obsidian, I think he will be able to do something." Lebanin bowed to the two in a trance, and quickly left to find the wizard. Black Yao and Saibo talked for a while, then went to ask Chi Yang for advice.Spells against seasickness were more in the category of warlocks, tinkerers, and healers than deep-witted, powerful wizards, and of course Alder couldn't do anything right now, but maybe remember a spell?He didn't remember that before all the troubles started, he had never dreamed that he would go to sea; Sepo admitted that he would get seasick every time he took a small boat or encountered bad weather.Obsidian finally went to the back cabin to apologize to the princess: there was nothing he could do, and he failed to provide a solution, only (sorry) a sailor, after hearing her plight (sailors were very inquisitive), insisted on the charm that Obsidian gave her , or amulet. The princess's slender hands protruded from the red and gold tulle, and the wizard placed in her hands a strange little thing in black and white: dried seaweed woven around a bird's breastbone. "It's the albatross, they can overcome the storm." Obsidian said shamefully. The princess bowed her hidden head and murmured thanks in Kargic.The little baby disappeared into the tulle, and she retreated into the cabin.Hei Yao met Wang who was standing nearby and apologized.The ship is now heaving violently on the rough sea due to the strong and strange wind direction, he said: "Your Majesty, you know, I can speak the truth to the wind..." Lebannin was well aware of the two schools of weather manipulation: the traditional way is that the bag master can order the wind to serve the ship, just like a shepherd orders the sheepdog to run back and forth; Spellwinds could be called upon if necessary, but it was best to let the winds of the world blow freely, and he knew that Obsidian was loyal to the ways of Roke. "Black Yao, it's up to you to judge, if this night is really sad...but if it's just a few strong winds..." Obsidian looked up at the masthead, a flame or two the color of withered leaves flickered in the cloudy dusk, thunder rumbled in the darkness to the south.Behind him, the last rays of sunlight fell pale and weakly on the waves. "Okay," he said rather despondently, returning to the cramped cabin below decks. Lebannin hardly set foot in the cabin, and slept on deck when sleep was needed.Everyone on the "Dolphin" can't sleep peacefully tonight.It was not a gust of wind, but a series of violent late summer storms brewing from the southwest. The nights were long and noisy, and the sea was blinded by lightning, like thunder that would smash the hull of the ship, and the boat was pitched back and forth. Crazy storms with upturned and weird beatings are presented alternately. Black Yao once asked Lebannin if he should say something to the wind, Lebannin looked at the captain, the captain shrugged, although the crew was very busy, they were not worried, the ship was fine.As for the lady, it is reported that they are gambling in the cabin.Irian and the princess had been on deck, but sometimes they had trouble getting a foothold, and found themselves only in the way, so they went back to the cabin.The kitchen boy said they had a gamble, and he was sent to ask the ladies if they wanted anything to eat, and they said just take it, and they would take it all. Lebannin found himself in the same intense curiosity as in the afternoon.The stern cabin was evidently brightly lit, with golden lights streaming over the foam and ripples behind the hull.Around midnight, he went to the rear and knocked on the door. Irian opened the door.After the harsh light and darkness of the storm, the cabin lights were warm and steady, but the oil lamps wobbled and cast wobbly shadows.He confusedly recognized the colors: the colorful pastel colors of the women's clothes, the complexion was tan, light white or golden yellow, the hair color was black, gray or golden brown, and the eyes... the princess grabbed a silk scarf or a piece of cloth to cover her face, stared at him in surprise. "Oh! We thought it was the kitchen boy!" Irian laughed. Tehanu looked at him and asked in a shy, companion-like tone, "Is there any trouble?" He realized he was staring at the door, like a stunned messenger of bad news. "No... not at all... how are you all? I'm sorry the boat is so rough..." "We don't blame you for the weather," said Tenar. "No one can sleep, so the Princess and I taught them the game of Karg." He saw five-sided ivory dice sticks, possibly Tosla's, scattered across the table. "We are betting on the islands," said Irian, "but Tehanu and I have been losing, and the Kargs have won the islands of Ark and Irian." The princess put down her silk scarf and sat firmly facing Lebanon, very nervous, as if she were a young swordsman looking at him before a sword fight.In the warm cabin, they were all bare arms and bare feet, but her strong awareness of her naked face attracted his attention like a magnet attracting iron needles. "I'm sorry the boat is so rough," he said like an idiot again, closing the hatch.When he turned to leave, he heard the woman laughing together. Standing beside the helmsman, he watched the far-off lightning light up the blackness of the storm, and he could see all of the aft cabin: Tehanu's long black hair; Tenar's warm, teasing smile; the dice on the table; the princess's roundness. His arms were the honey color of lamps, his throat was hidden in the shadow cast by his hair.But he doesn't remember looking at her arms and throat, he just remembers looking at her face, her eyes full of defiance and despair.What is the girl afraid of?Did she think he wanted to hurt her? One or two stars twinkle high in the southern sky.When he returned to the crowded cabin, the sleeping berth was already occupied, so he hung up the hammock and slept for several hours.He awoke before dawn, still restless, and climbed onto the deck. The day came bright and calm, as if there had never been a storm.Lebannin stood by the bow railing and saw the first rays of sunlight slanting across the sea, and an old song came to mind: Oh my joy! Before the Bright Oia Before Xi Guoyi built the island The wind of dawn caresses the sea O my joy, be free! It was a rhyme or a lullaby he had heard in childhood, and he could not remember more.The tune was sweet, and he hummed it softly, letting the sea wind carry the words from his lips. Tenar came out of the cabin, saw him, and came to her side. "Good morning, my lord." He greeted Tenar affectionately, vaguely remembering being angry with her, but not knowing why, or how there could have been. "Did you Kargs take Havnor last night?" he asked. "No, you can keep Havnor. We went to bed. The young man is still in bed in the cabin. Do you want to-how do you say it today? Lift Roke?" "Wake up Roke? Not yet, until tomorrow morning. We should be able to enter the port of Syl before noon—if they will let us go to the island." "How do you say that?" "Roke protects himself from uninvited visitors." "Oh, Ged told me. He was in a ship, trying to get back to Roke, and they made the wind turn, and he called it the Roke Wind." "to him?" "A long time ago." Tenar smiled delightedly, seeing his disbelief.He would not allow anything to offend Ged.He was a little boy messing with dark things then, that's what he said. " "He's still messing around as an adult." "Not now," Tenar said flatly. "Yes, now it's our turn." Lebannen's expression turned serious. "I wish we knew what we were messing with. I'm sure everything is approaching some great destiny or change... as Ogion predicted... As Ged told Alder. I'm sure I must meet everything at Roke, but beyond that, nothing is sure, nothing is known, no idea what we're up against. When Ged took me into the dark place , I knew who the enemy was; when I led the fleet to Sora, I knew what evil I wanted to destroy. But now... Are the dragons friends or foes? What the hell is wrong? What must we do, or destroy? Roke Can the master tell us? Perhaps they will turn the wind against us?" "Because I'm afraid..." "Afraid of dragons. The one they know, or the one they don't..." Tenar looked serious too, but gradually she smiled. "You've brought them a mess of characters! A warlock with nightmares, a wizard from Parn, two dragons, and two Kargs. The only decent passengers on this ship are you and Obsidian. " Lebannin could not laugh. "It would be nice if he was here." Tenar put her hand on his arm and began to speak, but could not. He put his hand over Tenar's, and they stood together for a moment in silence, gazing at the leaping sea. "Before we come to Roke, the princess has something to tell you," said Tenar. "It is a story from Hurhu. In the desert, they remember certain things. Except for the woman of Kaimei, I think it is better than I heard." Everything that has ever happened is long ago, and has to do with dragons... I hope you will kindly invite her, and spare her from asking." He felt a moment of impatience, a moment of shame, aware of the care and caution in Tenar's speech.He looked at the distant southern sea, a battleship was heading for Kemeri Island or Way Island, the oars were raised high, and there was a faint, tiny flash. "Of course. How's noon?" "Thank you."